You are hereAnand's Collection / ANAND RAMLOGAN'S SPEECH - COP Rally 6th October 2007
ANAND RAMLOGAN'S SPEECH - COP Rally 6th October 2007
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?
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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.
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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.
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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
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We congratulate Anand on his decision to join COP and fight the Tabaquite seat.
There was much speculation in the media last week that Anand might join PNM. This caused many of us much worry. Now in retrospect the worry was not so much about Anand himself - it was more the propensity for Trinbagonians to go with the wind, you know, 'the which ever way dee breeze blow' kind of thing. Well Anand is no average Trinbagonian!! Did we ever think so.
Anand has demonstrated as usual his moral and intellectual fortitude by doing what is right. It is not simply a matter of whether COP is the losing side or the winning side. He has also demonstrated good degree of foresight by staying clear of UNC. As Anand said "the UNC has no appeal beyond its dwindling hardcore,and more importantly, it has no life beyond Basdeo Panday". See also: Express 2007-10-07
We boldly predict that Anand will take his seat in Parliament. He is a true 'Guardian of Righteousness' for all of Trinidad and Tobago and a model citizen of our global community.
We welcome your comments and congratulations.
[Exceptionally - Site Administration has decided to allow brief messages and comments here, alongside our usual high quality analyses from our regular supporters - for this thread only.]
Firstly, congratulations and goodluck on your new challenge.!
I consider it a wise choice and although I don't know you personally, I do know of you though your writings and court activities, and feel very confident that success is bound to follow in your new undertaking.
I am also glad in many ways that bright, intelligent and dedicated professionals like yourself are willing to put people and country ahead of your self, to take and lead our country out of the mess it has found itself in because of individual greed and selfishness by some.
I feel relieved that we have people like yourself at the helm to take control and steer our land in the right direction as we look towards the future, not only for ourselves, but our children and generations to come.
As I read the news about you through out this week, I was tempted to write my thoughts on the subject matter, but felt it was not prudent to do so out of concern for any prejudice or bias of thoughts, and to wait until you announced your intentions...
I look forward to hearing and reading lots more about you as the election race proceed - and also to your victory at the polls too.!
Goodluck and godbless. Trini.t.o.o.
While I admire the COP and their stance of 'new politics', should they win, they must be careful of maintaining the appearance and the values that put them in that winning place. Politics unfortunately is not clean, not tidy, unlike law. There is a lot of compromise, especially when it comes to meeting targets or achieving some measure of success. Nothing is black and white, and the shades of grey is murky indeed.
While it is possible that the COP members, especially the ones who have the best intentions at present, have the best interest of the people at heart, before long they will find themselves compromising; compromising on goals such as salary negotiations, union goals, things of similar nature.
I hope then that with the compromise in the professional capacity, that there is no compromise in the personal capacity. Parakash Ramadhar, Anand Ramlogan et al may have the best of intentions at this juncture, but politics being what it is, new politics can easily slide into 'old' politics. The key here is to maintain and avoid that trap. Perhaps they should follow the examples of statemen like Noor Hassanali, and yes Hamza Rafeeq.
For those who don't know, Hamza is a man of great ... no, exceptional integrity. I have that from extremely reliable sources. Taking an example from these two men is not something negative, but rather the opposite.
Don't let new politics become old politics. Keep the best of intentions at the fore, and allow for others to corect your mistakes.
It's about time you tossed your hat in the ring. The first seed has been sown, and the roots of new politics will now grow.
Tara B.
Tara B.
KBRMEX
ANNAND...YOU HAVE MADE A GOOD MOVE...AND I KNOW THAT YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE POLITICS OF T&T...WILL BE BETTER THAN GOOD...
WE HAVE BEEN PLAGUED WITH INEPT POLITICIANS...FOR TOO LONG...IT IS ABOUT TIME...GOOD PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF...PRAKASH...DOOKARAN...GET ON THE BALL...AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO THE POLITICS...OF TRINIDAD...
LIKE I SAID A FEW WEEKS AGO...
Time to MOVE WITH THE COP...TRINIs...!!...YUH NEED to Go out and vote...and make it count...
PNM Falling apart...iz a fight with PNM and UNC..to form the OPPOSITION....
GO and tell them ...that you Read it here FIRST...and If I know the Bass...he will call Patrick for manos-manos...Unity talks....after the Election...to try to Grab the COP WIN
Yes..the COP SPLITING VOTES....it SPLITING ..some from PNM...and some from UNC...and some from Undecided...and some from Non-Voters...and some from New Voters...
GOOD LUCK GUYS...THE COP WILL MOVE T&T FOWARD...
VOTERS...GO OUT AND VOTE THE COP...!!
IT'S OUR ONLY HOPE.....FROM THE JAWS..OF DICTATOR MANNING..!!
KBRMEX
Just saw the re-run of your speech on TV. You really stole the show... With that delivery and ease at the podium - mixed with the right amount of Trini "political picong" - you are going to be around a long time.
The "Tabaquite Tiger" will go down on 11/05, the question is, are we seeing the new AG of Trinidad and Tobago? The position that, constitutionally, is meant to protect all citizens can finally now get a candidate that understands the meaning and spirit of what the AG should be.
Good luck!
I took in the UNC-A rally in Mid-Centre Mall (2007-10-07). There was so much preaching to the masses. All this 'brothers-and-sisters' nonsense.
Well the worst part for me was when Kamla came on - trying to breastfeed and smother the Nation with her life story. Give me a flipping break puhleese!
Then we had Ramesh trying to roar like a lion. Ah sorry for the man.
The whole UNC-A appeared like a group divided but putting on a facade of unity. Ramesh's mere presence spoke for itself.
Whilst I have my doubts about COP, when I comes to choosing between the devil and the deep blue ocean I'll take the latter.
But ah know eet have some people go take dey chances wid dee devil, especially eef he dishing out money and promises. Yeah boy - promises of a land of milk and honey. Boy leh meh tell yuh, dee devil does work he lil''e hypnosis on some people eh.
Anand boy, no devil cyah bamboozle your head. Show we dee way. I followin' you boy. Allyuh coming dis way or what?
After UNC's rally yesterday Anand it would be foolhardy of you not to realise you made a big mistake.
It's not too late Anand.
Unlike yourself and Prakash and many UNC supporters who have gone to the COP, the people at the rally yesterday are not thin skinned. We are people who will never forget what others do for us, we are not ungrateful people, we are loyal and will always stand behind those who have a track record of fighting for us. We are not traitors.
We are also forgiving people and will welcome you back. If you and the rest of the COP membership want to hide behind comments like "crowds do not win elections etc" and continue to bury your heads in the sand then what can I say you have failed before even getting chance to contest.
It's such a pity, you are someone whom we the population respected for your oratory and legal skills andI might add still do but its dissapointing you could have gotten it so wrong.
Neverthess if you for one moment take off your blinkers you will realise the "force" is now with the UNC and will in all likelihood only grow in strenght.
Apologise to the nation, say you got it wrong and come back man, brink home Sando West otherwise I am afraid you will be in for a very rude awakening amd may never ever return to politics after this election which would be sad.
Note I am only asking you and the supporters to return. Not Dookeran and the others. The UNC contrary to general opinion do not need them anymore. I predict the COP will slowly but surely become smaller and smaller as the date arrives.
The media which always wants the PNM to win will try to create a different impression to make it seem like the COP is strong but at the ground level they would be dead.
Anand, take a day or 2 and meditate on the latest developments with a very objective mind and you may see what I am seeing or you may not.
Either way what's to be will be.
I forgot to add that speech by Kamla although containing too many "I's showed the long journey Kamla has made and one can only but admire her political maturity and fight and might I add LOYALTY.
She is ready to accept the mantle of leadership and I have no doubt whe will, but first let us give Panday the next term he wants. You know why he wants it? He wants to atone for the magnanamous gesture he made when he first became PM and decided to put Nation first and ignore the wrongdoings of the PNM and his own Members and so he did not investigate and prosecute anyone, he concentrated soley on development ofthe nation, building the infrastructure.
Now he wants 5 more years to make them feel what it is like to go to Jail and be publicly humiliated and freedom taken away by constant appearances in court, onlky not for trumped up chrages but for ACTUAL wrongdoings.
Let us give the man his day, he deserves it. After he is done, the UNC membership will elect a leader from Kamla and Ramesh and any new contenders, maybe even you Anand, if you play your cards right. Currently the only people who deserve UNC leadership are Kamla, Ramesh and Wade Mark. Jack still has to earn his stripes.
Scholar, Like the rhetoric of the UNC-A have yuh brain adled or what?All yuh could spout is the same rhetoric you've been fed.
How do you evaluate the track record of the UNC? What about Ramesh's presence? Is he an opportunist?
And they have you believing that you have a more 'objective mind' than a man like Anand Ramlogan who batting before eminent Law Lords at the Privy Council. What a cheek?
Boy show some respect nuh.
Captain, I have never changed my opinion on Anand being a briliant lawyer but a lawyer does not have an objective brain, a Judge does becasue they have to be that way. A lawyer MUST have a biased view in favour of his client.
However that was not my point. Anand lost his objectivity when he joined the COP becuase he now have to fight and defend them in the same way PNM and UNC reps have to be biased in favour of their party.
Before taking sides Anand was very objective in his newspaper writings. He cannot be objective now "consciously" unless he forces himself to be. It is my opinion he made the wrong decision on which side to stand on and I am only asking him to force himself to be objective again.
Is Ramesh an opportunist, of course like all humans he has an element of that.
But Ramesh contributed significantly in building the UNC, he has as much right over it as Panday, maybe a little less. He deserves to come back and take what is his.
He mash up the UNC yes and I agrees with him, I would have done the saem because I am not a follower. Ramesh is not a follower unless he is following what he believes in, but most people such as those in the UNC and the COP will follow principles even if they dont believe in them for ythe sake of opportunity hence teh reason for no major squabbles. Thank God the PNM had Valley, he is just like Ramesh, hopefuly he will mash up the PNM as wel for attemptting to deviate from teh founding principles of that party.
Ramesh mash up te UNC because corruption was taking place in the Airport and Panday refused to investigate it. Panday wanted to create and develop the country so bad he was willing to overlook some things but Ramesh being the AG, his conscience could not allow him to stand by and watch these thinhs happening.
Also Panday was sideling him ( a co creator of the UNC ) from the decsion making process and as heir to the throne in fovour of his new friends.
I hope Panday has learnt his lessons and will reward those who have worked hard but we the people apreciate all that Panday has done and fought for and so we overlook these mistakes of his because he is also human.
So Ramesh was right in mashing up the party jsut as he is right to come back now.
Finally let me add I am from South Trinidad - south of Grand Bazaar. If you grew up in North Trindad from Diego to Arima I do not expect you to understand why we are loyal to Panday and if you voted PNM I cannot fault you as PNM have always given to these areas and th epeople from these areas.
If you are a youngster and voting COP again I do not blame you, I blame the parents of these children and the education system on not educating our citizens on the history of this country and its major players.
If you do not fall in the above category and live South of Grand bazaar and do not support Panday you are either racist, totally devoid of loyalty, traitorous, ungrateful or suffering from amnesia. The only other option you can be is a complete idiot and from your writings I do not belive you are that so I leave it to you to choose which you are.
I trust this post is not deleted as I do not belive I used any derogatory terms.
Regards
Anand
Scholar, there seems to be too much hatred and venom (payback) in UNC-A camp right now that they are blinded from reality and can't see the forest for the trees.
With all that has gone on for the many years, they haven't learnt anything, and they are still in-fighting themselves for power, each and every one of them. Do you really think they are doing this for the people and country?
They are now really afraid that COP is slowly and silently making huge inroads into the minds and hearts of the voters, and the people are truly seeing a "real alternative" of choice come election day.
Is this what scary to the UNC-A Community of Leaders? Because they still don't have a "Leader" yet, and never will, just you wait and see.! Too many crabs in the barrel, no? Everyone wants to get to the top,no? The infighting will never cease so long as these same people are there in UNC-A. Same people, same game, they make up the rules as they go along.!
COP must be having a huge impact on them, but COP has only been there for less than a year, is it not the PNM that they (UNC)handed POWER to about six years ago, why are they not taking shots at the party in power, why the fixation on COP as the "enemy".?
In the final analysis, COP represents a true alternative to the people of the country for any salvation from the current morass that UNC has been part of the "gift" to PNM because of their power struggle and in-fighting, so why are they not focused on trying to resolve all of the "ills" of the current regime? Why COP?
COP has never been in power, but they will be soon, so long as the UNC-A continues to spew "hatred and venom" in their pathway, while talking from "both sides of their mouth" about unity.! Take a check, they don't know what unity is if it flies up and bites them in the face. What Unity? What "Leader?
"Spent shells are exactly what they are, spent shells." COP is the real force to reckon with, a brand new politics for the people, by the people with the people, and thats what the UNC-A is now squirming in their shoes.
They, the UNC-A are fresh out of new ideas. They are still stuck with so much bitterness and hatred, that they are blinded and doomed to "self implode" with so many "so called leaders" all fighting for the same scrap of roti. They are still "into Rum and Roti Politics" and have not realized the ship has sailed and they are left back on shore, still kung fu fighting.!
COP is the way to go, for all the people, with an intelligent and educated group of citizens as well as a highly educated, and experienced "leader" whose sight is set on the goals ahead. Slow but steady as she goes, right on target for November 5th 2007, just you wait and see, you might be "slightly surprised".
Good choice Anand, and a wise one too. Afterall, "failure" is where we are right now, and that includes UNC-A and PNM, so what does COP have to lose? Everything to gain, and the people are showing that confidence in COP as momentum builds up.!
Thats what have UNC-A and PNM worried and afraid, and so they should. They should be "very afraid" that the people have opened their eyes and are not going to be fooled over and over again. This time they have "clear alternatives" and COP is that!
Come election day, vote with your eyes wide open, and with your heads. Take a good look around, take a hard look at whats happening, and then show me the alternatives you speak about?
Good luck to Anand and your wisdom to see and choose clearly into the future, for yourself, your people and your country.
Best of luck!
Godbless! Trini.t.o.o.
Captian. the campaign now start for the PNM and the UNC. the cop started their campaign 6 months ago and they peaked and are now on the downwrad spiral.
Watch in the next 4 weeks the might of the PNM and the UNC as they completely destroy the COP. I am glad for the formation of the COP, it is causing the country to mature poiltically especially the processes.
At the end of this election Trinidad will be able to move forward in a more mature manner with 2 parties. The electorate will be similar to the USA with the democrats and the republicans or the UK with the labour and the conservatives. A 3rd force in both these mature democracies is am aberration if not a suicidal journey.
Anand
Heard Roger Sant speaking to Bishnu Ragoonath and it was bandied about that Ramesh may be asked to relieve Adesh and carry the battle to Anand himself in Tabaquite!
Wow, I want to attend all those constituency meetings if it does happen! The new versus the old to test their skills on the hustings. I'll bet my "lil money" (like Patrick) that Anand wins hands down.
Hope that rumour comes to pass. If not, it's because Ramesh chickened out..... ha, ha, ha...
Ramesh is a smart man and has a nose for free publicity, and recognize that "history is in the making" come this election.
That is why he is trying everything he could - unity call, mediation, meetings, anything that will get him on the inside and be part of the "history in the making", it does not matter what his role.
So yes, he also knows that Anand is a high profile candidate and will get him in the shine up front and centre, even if he loses his shirt in the process, which is my "small bet" he will get his cut arse coming and going should this come to pass.
Sometimes they say you need a "bit of poison to cure the snake bite", just what the doctor ordered. So Ramesh can come and get his, for free this time around.!
Desperate people do desperate things in desperate times.!
Such desperation for Ramesh, afraid history will leave him in its wake, to be remembered mostly for what Panday called him, a Maha Neemakharam of them all!.
All of this mad dash off the cuff strategy by UNC-A only shows that Anand remains the real obstacle in their pathway, a real contender to be reckoned with, and they are not comfortable with it, they too are becoming desperate as well.
The pressure is on them,UNC-A, next move please.!
Good luck Anand, keep a cool head as I know you are capable of, and this too will come and pass, you really getting to them now.!
Goodluck and Godbless. Trini.t.o.o.
KBRMEX
ANAND...I WANT YOU TO REMIND ...VOTERS...THAT IT WAS RAMESH...WHO...GAVE AWAY THE ELECTIONS TO THE PNM...THE LAST TIME AROUND...HE HAD FORMED HIS OWN PARTY...TO SPLIT VOTES...TO TAKE FROM THE UNC...TO HELP THE PNM...SO IF HE TALKS ABOUT SPLITTING VOTE...THAT'S HIS LEGACY...HE KNOWS JUST HOW TO DO THAT...!!....
NOW HE SEES THE COP...MOVING AHEAD...OF THE UNC...SOMETHING..THAT HE COULD NOT ACHIEVE...HE WANTS...TO BRING US DOWN...WELL...NOT SO EASY...LET THEM KNOW...THE COP HERE TO STAY...AND ALL...THAT THEY HAVE LEFT...IS TO FIGHT,,WITH...THE PNM...FOR SPACE ON THE OPPOSITION BENCHES...!!...IF THEY THAT LUCKY...
IT'S A PITY...KAMLA AND RODAL...CHOSE NOT TO FOLLOW YOU....HOPEFULLY...THERE IS STILL A CHANCE FOR THEM TO HAVE A CHANGE OF HEART...OR TO BE CONVINCED...TO STOP HOLDING ON TO WHAT PANDAY BELIEVES...TO BE HIS OWN...!!
GOOD LUCK...AND GOD BLESS...
KBRMEX
It seems like this election has two main issues. 1. UNC-A party and supporters would like it to be a referendum on Basdeo Panday's merits or not as a Political Leader. 2. Patrick Manning and his strategic objective and tactical ploys to become a constitutional dictator. The central question of the welfare of the current and future generations of the citizens of the country seem to be lost in the equation. TnT's state institutions are in such disrepair and collapse that whilst the facade of funtionality is apparent to all, the substance of performance for and on behalf to the citizenry is absent. How can the two major political tribes of the nation sell themselves so short for the sake of two men who both have their feet in the cemetery. The people of TnT deserve better than this outcome, but if they choose to honour their past without consideration given to the welfare of the current and future generations, May God help them. It so reminds of the cataclysmic end that was the outcome of so many cults. Panday suck the sugar out of the cane to the extent that not even bargasse can be made with the remnants. Manning sucking the treasury to feed consumption to the extent that productivity in the country is the lime rather than throughput from agriculture or manufacturing. Who is going to invest the resources of the nation, both human and material, to ensure real growth and development of the country. It is certainly encouraging to see young people like Anand taking on the sacrifice to make a difference. I hope that the majority of electors in the majority of seats act in the best interest of country and not of self and bring back responsible governance to Trinidad and Tobago. God Bless our nation.
A getting a bit annoyed with this 'God Bless' business. So what happen God eh bless the Nation enough for the last 20 years - which ever political party ruling dee country?
Health system in a mess. Education in a bigger mess. Crime - doh let me start. Bobol - meh pressure going up!
Like God gone tuh sleep or what? God Bless and God Bless...God Bless meh foot!
Firstly, I have the greatest respect for those who are "agnostics" and do not believe in a supreme being. I am of the view however, that in any "true democracy", one must also "respect" those who hold such a belief for themselves, even if it is contrary to my own.!
It is for these same reasons that "religious rights and freedoms" are entrenched in the constitution of most advanced "free thinking" democratic contries of today, and envied by those that still has in place "restrictions" on personal beliefs..
Secondly, this being said, it distracts from the sad state of affairs in Trinidad and Tobago today, which has been on a path of continuous decline over that past forty plus years due to the inept and maladministration of the PNM government over that same period. This despite enormous cash flows of over $200 billion in Gas & Oil Revenues just within the last five years alone.
Thirdly, there is "nothing" to show for these huge revenue intake, except a $148 million residence for the Prime Minister and his "unelected" spouse, whom "he appointed" as the Minister of Education, but was not "elected" by the people.
Now, he, the Prime Minister, speaks of getting a majority government so that he can "change the constitution" to have himself installed as the "Executive President" of our country. Now, that is "really frightening" and scary stuff.O.K?
The writer "trinican" is correct that this is the most "grave situation" our country faces today, and if he (the Prime Minister) succeeds with his plans, then our country is "doomed" forever, with no recourse to be changed back within my or my children's generation. (read PNM's Ken Valley's comments on today's newspaper on Manning's Dictatorship tendencies.) That "was his own former Minister of Trade speaking", not an outsider.
So my friend, whether we believe or not, even if the people do not see it coming or feel helpless to do something about it, (the last election, certain individuals admitted they were hired/engaged to "intimidate" voters who were not PNM supporters, to help "ensure" the outcome of a PNM government, you can see the "dire straits" for some "Divine Intervention" to save my country from certain and wanton destruction by an "unscruptulousl and "uncaring" man - especially one with "dictatorship tendencies"?
Take a close look at his record to date, it speaks volumes all by itself.!
God help us all if he succeeds!
Godbless and goodluck, we'll need it for sure.!
Trini.t.o.o.
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"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."Ramlogan.
You seem to have understood the great dilemma that the people of TnT will be in if the PNM are to win and you seem to care about the future. If you so care then how could you risk the future of everyone on a gamble by betting on the COP. Dookeran is a great man and a very likeable person that I admire, but if he is upset that Panday treated him bad, (which is true) what about the times when Panday treated him good. Like still giving him a post after Dookeran stayed with the nar during that club88 fiasco. Just be fair. The only thing that the COP will accomplish is to let the PNM cruise into government again unless the people wake up and realise that a vote for the COP is a vote for PNM.
I am very dissappointed with your decision to fight elections on a COP ticket but I am certain that you will learn from your mistakes as you will realise that all this "new politics" is more "plain old politics." I just wish that you guys could have worked something out and then Dookeran would surely have been the next PM. People will suffer now because of users like ganga singh and sadiq baksh(who were nobodies until Panday). But whatever will be will be!!
Ruby, You seem to be one of the 'millions' who are infected with PNM-o-phobia.
Fear will be the main source of irrational decision-making amongst the electorate. This fear is what is leading lots of people to finger-pointing and raising their stick at the COP. I wonder if you have read some of the excellent contributions in other parts of this forum. See: Sometimes we Trini's.....
In reality you and others who share your view, should look at one main thing - the source of your sentiments. Your own words, "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 the context of all that you say, are clear evidence that fear of PNM rule is what drives you to blame the COP for the obvious risk you perceive. This is what fear and oppression do to people. They blame each other. Fear and oppression divides and rules people. And guess who wins - the fear and oppression inducer. I take it you don't need a history lesson.
And now you seem to pin advance blame on Anand Ramlogan. The man has been absolutely clear from day one about his decision to join the COP. He has made it clear why he is prepared to lose whilst supporting COP than to win for any other party. The man is a true Guardian of Righteousness - his dedication to rights and freedoms of the Nation is without question. I am very disappointed that now people seem to want to sling mud at him for making a decision that is morally correct and based on solid foundation.
But I should know better. When our survival is threatened we behave like animals - don't we? We resort to fear, aggression, selfishness, short-sightedness, greed and a search for a protector. And in all that we are even willing to 'identify with the aggressor' and sleep with the devil (or the lesser of two devils) in order to survive.
I guess Anand's intellectual and moral fortitude, and fearlessness - such a shining light to many, has it's limits. The blind and the deaf, those who refuse to open their eyes and ears, those whose minds are crippled with fear, will never be reached. They stand to be ruled by an oppressive and corrupt regime for the next 50 years. They will get all they deserve. Their children and their children will get all that they didn't deserve - all because of stupidity and fear!
Anand, I chose to stand by you all the way.
The statement that you quoted from me were the words of Anand Ramlogan, so he too must have PNM phobia.
Anand Ramlogan is going to be part of the blame for the next several years of PNM rule. The sole purpose of the COP is to cripple the UNC and Panday. This is the election that will be remembered for Dookeran throwing away the post of PM, because of useless people like sadiq, ganga, and manohar. Dookeran could have been the leader of the UNC/COP alliance. I am not scared or have fear of anything, I am fortunate to be living out of the country, it is your future that I am concerned about. Everyday when I read about the crime and rising cost of living, I cannot believe that "not liking Panday" can have presidence over the future of the country.
"it was not about who is charismatic but about decency. Was I suppose to follow Panday like some backward ‘coolie’ year after year?"
The above statement was quoted in the Express from a speech by you Mr. Ramlogan. Why do you brand UNC supporters as backward coolies, what gives you that right? Do you really believe that you and your supporters are so much more superior than UNC supporters.
You will soon realise the power of the grassroots.
"Superiority" oh no! UNC and its supporters they are intellectual hybrids, that sentiment remains with you. They are the ones who praise the one who took a knife in one hand and slash the jugular vein of the last UNC government, and with the other hand he placed it into Mr. Panday's back when he grinned and embraced him.
The job not yet complete he returns as dracula ready to slaughter the next generation of potential leaders from amongst you. Now he is your hero. Thats intellectual superiority as it beats every system of logic that mankind has developed to date. When Anand was defending Mr. Panday (in an action initiated by the one with the dagger) for not reporting the 'scholarship' from the 'parasitic oligarchy' he was a champion legal mind at that time.
When the ordinary people have to 'put aside a little money' to send their children to college. Now that is intellectual superiority because it is a few leaps ahead of normally acceptable logic. The one hiding the money is far superior. Where did you develop your moral compass Mr. Ramdass?
Those of this intellectual rank deserve whatever is coming to them. What kind of animal eats their own young ones? Communal solidarity trumps again. Those who, in a supposedly free society, with the freedom of association, (or is this only for the likes of Mr. Cadiz) who choose to exercise a choice not in keeping with the "custodian" of UNC identity are damned, fools, nemakaram etc.
Really Mr. Ramdass is this the society you wish for your children, thats why you choose to migrate to a place where you are free to ponitifcate from on high. "If you always do what you always did, aye Mr. Ramdass, you will ALWAYS get what you always got".
Some people seem to lack the intelligence to distinguish a thing from the consequences of a thing.
The difference between Rudy and Anand Ramlogan is that the former seemingly lacks the capacity to
- whilst the latter being an expert can manage all the above skillfully. That is what true leadership is about. I'll stick with the expert. Thank you very much.
If you so care then how could you risk the future of everyone on a gamble by betting on the COP?
To answer your question Rudy... it is time for a change. Frankly, several decades of PNM rule has shown me that they are inept. A bold statement you may be asking yourself. Frankly, I do not apologise for it when I see the high crime rate, the high cost of food, the immense traffic jams and corrupt Licencing/Customs departments, the massive spending on unnecessary buildings just to line the hidden pockets...
Commonsense tells me that there are 2 reasons for a change.
1) Doing the same thing over and over will only give the same results within the same conditions.
2) The spending spree and other satellite situations will get infinitely worse should the PNM win, simply because that's a licence to them that what they do has earned (tacit) approval.
Now, I agree the two comments apply mainly to the PNM, and you support the UNC. But they do apply to the UNC as well, with the millstone that is Panday being in charge. Should the UNC win, that is a licence for untrammelled power grabbing.
Now, I could be wrong, and the UNC may have learnt its lessons.. but frankly, I am not willing to risk it. Safer than sorry later on, you understand...
I think the biggest lesson I learnt is that Panday's public displays DO reflect the inner man, the one who cannot and should not be trusted. The man as I mentioned before who does nothing unless he has some sort of PERSONAL gain.
Dookeran is a quiet man, but the reason he has garnered so much support is BECAUSE he is different to Panday; his career and track record speak volumes. He has the financial experience to assist this country in this time, and also he does have political experience , albeit less than Pa-trick and Panday. He is also more of a gentleman and DIPLOMAT than either.
Like Scholar, you figure that:
a) Panday could bawl hard, rant and wave and wear red beret and so he is an action figure. Empty vessels and all that...
b) he is in politics for nearly 4 decades so he must be experienced and so obviously the best choice. Hardly... his track record and public profile again...
c) The COP is going into an election with 'has-beens' and people whom Panday 'gave a chance'. Yes, he may have, but that does not mean he is always right and they are always wrong because of that... they all saw the error of his ways coincidently and decided enough was enough and walked away (or were kicked out). But they have experience and a common goal of wanting things to be better, same as you and I may hope it could be... whereas Panday dreams of coming into power by hook or threat.
I don't know if I feel more sorry for you, for being so blinded, or for Panday, for using you as he has no alternative left.
How many times we have to be hit on the head before we know it actually hurts? How many times we have to be abused and insulted before we wake up and come to realize its "degrading"? How many times we have to be fooled, before we come to accept that we are indeed a "fool"?
Its mind boggling and mind numbing, but its true. They call it brainwashing, and it happens all over the world all the time.!
Why does suddenly Panday feels that COP is the number one "enemy" to be fought than the PNM who is in power and who holds the power?
Why all his energy and forces are being spent focused on defeating COP? What has COP done to him?
Why does he keep on insisting if you vote for COP you are voting for PNM, or if PNM wins, it is the fault of COP? After all, it was he who "gave them" and put them in Power, was it not?
His mantra is if I tell them often enough, and keep repeating it to them, they will eventually believe it to be true.!
The "whole world" looked at his treatment of Kamla Persad-Bissessar recently, and is yet to believe that she could accept so much "political abuse" from him and "pretend its not happening". And its not even the first time too.!
Its o.k, she said, I'll stick with him and the party.! I'm loyal?
Wives are beaten and abused worldwide daily, and when the police are called, they don't want them to jail their husbands or to persecute them in court as they "all in love with him".
...until it happens all over and over again and again, until they are abused and killed or die, which ever comes first.!
...no end to the abuse.! They're loyal too! They call it "the batterd wife syndrome".
Patty Hearst was one of the world's most famous kidnapped victim, yet by the time she was found, she said they (her kidnappers) were her friends, they had treated her so nice, and they were now friends.Strage but true.! She did not even want to prosecute them.! Such is the power of brainwashing.!
I also read earlier this week that Politics in our country was all about who could throw the most "picong" at their "opponents", and that seems to work for Panday well as he is good at it.
In fact, in my mind, that is all he is really good at.!
But I see that as a means for him to deflect from taking responsibility and credit for the sad state the country is in today, or to address the issues in any meaningful way at all.
To deflect what gross damage he has done to "his people and for his people", and for the sad state he has left them in.
Now he wants to do it all over again? Yet another time? And we will fall for that? We must accept that, and be abused again?
Forget about the burning issues facing the nation today; crime, water, floods, executive presidency, dictatorship, cost of foods and spiralling inflation, poor health services, hospitals, security of the people, roads and transportation, kidnapping and robberies, education of our children;
...who the heck cares about all of this? Panday? All he cares about is getting back in power at all costs.!
When you have "four bus drivers" (he call them the "fearsome four")all wanting to drive the same bus, but not knowing where they are going, it is for certainty it will go off the road, it will crash, they are all scrambling to drive off in their own direction, on their own agenda, and to fulfill their own dreams and grand plans.
For me personally, I'd rather take my chances with the "one driver" who may be a little slower, but has a "map", knows the "direction" and knows where he is going. Much wiser in my book, than to go backwards and get hit on the head over and over, again and again.! Ouch, that hurts.!
He may get there a bit late, but at least he will "arrive alive!" rather than crash and not get there at all in "ONE PIECE".
UNC-A has already started to disintegrate into pieces, check it out, no?
This is not about people, this is not about country, this is not even about unity, this all about RAW SELFISH POWER.!
And at all costs, even if he has to abuse the people again and again and again.!
But we're all free to make our individual choices, and I must also respect that, but as I said, I do feel sorry for my children, my friends and family and my country, for all that don't recognize what will eventually happen after all is done with on November 5th. There will be long lasting, very long lasting consequences for all, period.
When President Maxwell in his speech said words to the effect that our children were in deep trouble and dire straits and needed so much help, thats was only the "tip of the iceberg.!
Think carefully long and hard when you vote this time, of who and what you choose, and forget about the"picong", take a long hard look at the "issues facing the nation today" with your eyes wide open!
If not, they will all be there and more long after we're gone, long after the building is closed and long after the lights are turned off.....!
Reminders and Remnants of our Legacy to our children and grandchildren...! Such a sad history to leave behind for them..
Good luck and godbless you all my friends...!Trini.t.o.o.
You are the most important man in politics in T&T today. You must continue to jam the UNC and PNM, no sacred cows.
Give panday hell! somone must take him on, you are destined to do so, for it is only when you can put panday to pasture that you will be the leader.
And you are the only person who can lead us now, the rest are not upt to it.
don't be afraid of those attackikng you like rambachan, the coward and management expert who whines like a little wussy.
Don't hold back, go for it, leaders are not afraid to speak the truth, you must not back off!! Pardner, this is war, politics is nasty but you have what it takes to be the leader
YOU WILL WIN!
GO ANAND, GO!
Capil Sookdeo