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Statesmanship, not Gamesmanship.
Having chosen to support Kamla as the political leader of a unified opposition in the next general elections, I was asked explain my choice: “Why not Winston?” I had therefore painted myself into a corner which necessitated a comparative analysis of the leadership traits and abilities of the two contenders.
As expected, many COP supporters have called upon me to apologise to Winston for what some interpreted/deemed an unwarranted attack on his character. In true Trini style, most people agreed with what I said but just felt it was better left unsaid because it was widely understood and accepted. To recap:
|
KAMLA |
WINSTON |
|
An intellectual (an Attorney who recently topped the MBA programme) |
An intellectual (recognised as an excellent economist) |
|
Never tainted by corruption but widely recognised as one of the best Ministers in the UNC gov’t |
Has Integrity (the image of a decent and honourable man) |
|
Has integrity (none of the mud flung by the PNM or Panday has stuck thus far) |
Solid technocrat, good on political theory and philosophy |
|
Has earned her stripes as a political soldier defeated the lion in his own den), |
Could not defeat Panday |
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Strong parliamentary debater and good orator |
Lost his seat to neophytes Hulsie in 1991 and Vasant in 2007 |
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Has charismatic appeal and connects with the grassroots |
Political leader of the COP which failed to capture a seat |
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Has history on her side as we’ve never has a female PM |
Not a passionate orator |
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Has taken command of a party with a strong base and 15 seats |
Does not connect with the grassroots (lacks charismatic appeal) |
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Elected political leader of the UNC |
Likeable and non-threatening but not aggressive and strong enough (the “oomph” factor) |
|
|
Unelected political leader of the COP |
My comparative analysis sparked a raging but misconceived debate on charisma vs integrity. It was based on the assumption that Winston has integrity and Kamla has none. Whilst it is true that the leadership pendulum swung away from charismatic leaders for a while, the colourless, dour technocrats that were tried have all failed and the people have rejected them. Tony Blair can beat Gordon Brown anytime and Bill Clinton can beat George Bush any day, Monica or no Monica.
The UNC of today is not the UNC of yesterday. I am very proud of the UNC. No one has credited it for the political maturity it demonstrated in removing Panday. The overwhelming support for Jack Warner despite Panday’s attacks is a significant positive development. The flippant dismissal of the UNC as the same old party Panday led is simplistic and flawed. The frustrated membership was crying for change and hence the transformation of the party’s executive.
That change and transformation includes the embrace of our Afro brothers and sisters in the recognition of the fact that the Panday politics of the past are over. Just look at the outpouring of love for Wade Mark that prompted his retention as a Senator. An Indo-Trini can never run against a Manning slate in the PNM and win. The arrogance of viewing such a constituency as “the rum and roti crowd” of the past is offensive.
That said, the idea that neither Indo-Trinis nor Afro-Trinis can govern this country without the endorsement of the validating elite is as obnoxious as it may be true. How do we bridge this gap and unite the people so that we can remove the PNM? The people can be united with or without their parties. The empirical evidence shows that the UNC will be taking a huge risk if it relies on its base alone to win the election.
The COP’s proposal for unity (as outlined by Prakash Ramadhar on CNC 3) of a new party and an internal election to decide the new political leader is unrealistic. UNC supporters will vote for Kamla and COP supporters for Winston and we will be back to square one. Resources are better conserved to fight the PNM in the next general election instead of wasted fighting each other.
Analytical and historical perspectives lead to the same conclusion: a political confluence is needed to remove the PNM. Evolution, whether of the species, culture or politics is not always predictable. History has shown that there are times when 'leaps' in the evolutionary trajectory occur that 'surprise' and 'defy' predictions. That is simply how life unfolds. For the religious it is understood as the 'mystery' of life. For the scientific, it is the recognition of uncertainty in all statistical probability.
Robust, honest, informed, pragmatic discussion, with the intent of consensus and agreement in pursuit of a common vision is necessary. Leaders who fail to listen to their people will lose their flock. The aim is not to ‘conquer’ the COP but rather, to harness, unify and consolidate the growing body of citizens who are disaffected with the PNM and want to see a change. In uniting around a common purpose with a common goal there is no concept of ‘conquest’ and ‘defeat’. The only problem is crossing the complex political egos of disgruntled supporters who might feel as if their stake in the grab for power is being weakened. This is the time for statesmanship and not gamesmanship.
By Anand Ramlogan
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The time for change is here and now, embrace it together in unity and rejoice, or lose it forever...and suffer in silence...!
...Anand, your article is very pragmatic and realistic as well as goal attainable...if it's well executed by all the stakeholders...if not, then it was all in vain, "the change train would have been derailed, and it would be back to square one...and back to status quo..."!..an exercise in futulity...what a pity...!
...politics has mostly been steeped in the Machiavellian philosophy, grab power and hold on to it by all and any means notwithstanding...the end results are what matters most, and the winner takes it all...!
...in reading your analysis in this regard, it reminded me of an article I read quite a while ago written by Professor Rappaport, entitled the "X and Y theory"..."How Can I Win If You Won't Lose"...?...in his paper, he advanced an explaination that X and Y relentlessly pursued the same objective, both trying to accomplish the very same results, however, without any meaningful cooperation and any compromises, both X and Y loses out in the end...both losers to a "system" and to "each other" and not to a "true opponent"..!
...in this instance, I fully agree that now is not the time nor the place for "gamesmanship"...but for "true statesmanship and leadership" at the same time...!
...the suggestion of a formation of a new party and the election of a new leader should be viewed in and by itself as a non-starter...as the race is lost before it has even begun...!
...it is widely recognized that it is an extremely difficult journey to "getting to yes", but that is the challenge faced by both Leaders for themselves and on behalf of their loyal followers, if there is any hope of success in being able "to implement change"...!...for them both, and more so to Kamla, since she was able to overcome the biggest hurdle in pursuit of this goal...that was to remove the stumbling block, Panday...!...the very same demon that haunted Winston out of the UNC...and on to formation of the COP party...!
...its evident therefore, that both Winston and COP and the "new leader" of UNC, Kamla both are in pursuit of "change"...and to remove the incumbent government of the day...the very same goal and objectives...!
...the people, UNC, COP and the rest of the country are all anxious and waiting to see the emergence of a solidly unified Party with a Leadership championing the "true agent of change", and they have all recognized Kamla to be that one...and are all in the hope that with the unity of forces, change can and will happen...as in Obama's world..."yes, we can...!"
...so the time for change is here and now, not a new party, but a unification of the current two forces, UNC and COP under one "Leader", the consensus to which I feel the voice of the people has already spoken...(the voice of the people is the voice of God...?)...and all that remains to be done now is for that true Statesman to stand up, which I feel confident he can, and to quote the great Mahatma Gandhi, "be the change that you would like to see in the world..."!...and to do like he did also, step aside for the sake of his people, and for his country....!...and let change happen and it will...!
...that time for change is here and now, don't let it pass, it may never come this way again...at least, not anytime soon...lost opportunities are not easily regained...!
...thanks again, Anand for awakening and opening the eyes of those who are clamoring for change, despite the harsh words of criticisms directed at you by many, for "standing up and speaking out"...but the "truth" always hurt the most...!
...goodluck...Trini. t.o.o
Uniting to battle a common 'evil' or 'enemy' has always been the way of the world. Nothing new there.
The real test is what happens after the common enemy has fallen. What is there to keep unity alive and working for the people?
You might piece and stick together fragments of a broken pane of glass, and present a face of 'unity'. However, the cracks remain visible and the semblance of unity is easy to shatter.
I boldly stick my neck out and predict two things:
Why ah so downbeat? For a very simple and powerful set of reasons:
And daize it. We go jes have to wait an' see eh.