Step aside for new political leaders

THE EDITOR: The United National Congress (UNC) is a political party. It is an entity — a legal entity, not a person or any one person. It should not be tied to any one man; be he founder or otherwise. It is like a business corporation. It has a life of its own. It is true that Mr Basdeo Panday was a driving force in its creation and has helped nurture it to its present state. But unlike Mr Panday, the party will live on — we hope. So, to ensure that survival, there must be an orderly way for succession to occur. Mr Panday is a man of advanced age (70’s) and as we are all aware, no one lives forever. Therefore, neither he nor his supporters should be under the misguided illusion of his omnipotence. He will die one day; we all will. So what is the plan for the UNC beyond his demise? Will the party die with him?

The untimely passing of Harold Dookeran (55), should give them all reason for pause. This should make them realise that death can strike anyone at anytime, regardless of age. When it does, life and the party must go on. It is therefore unwise to pin your star to one man, especially not one who is in his waning years. I believe that if Mr Panday was not going to seek an election post in the UNC’s party executive elections, then he should step aside and let others vie for the posts. He should be allowed to stay on in an honorary position, maybe as a “senior political advisor” to the party and whoever succeeds in winning party posts. This position could be one that is paid or unpaid, but he should not try to hold on to power by trying to share it with whoever wins the position of party leader.

So, it is time for Mr Panday and others in the UNC to “see the writing on the wall” (his own mortality) and for him and them to do the right thing for the survival and betterment of the party. It is time for him to depart with dignity and grace, and not be forced out or humiliated into submission. The same is true for many PNM dinosaurs too. These “old” guys (and gals) from a bygone era, want to hold on to power “until hell freezes over.” They feed on power and refuse to admit when it is time to go. They are attempting to hold onto this power forever and will leave only when they are carried out, feet first.

How sad! When part of their leadership role should be to mould, train and mentor their successor(s). Only when they do that, will new and dynamic leaders be found who can take over and ensure a smooth transition of leadership. As any good stage actor knows, there is a time to step aside; a time to take your final curtain call and exit stage left. One can leave with the knowledge that you have done your very best and then leave the next act for others to play. So it is time for these “dinosaurs” to move on and make room for new leadership, who can move the country forward, in these early years of the 21st century.

KELVIN C JAMES, Sr
Port-of-Spain