Politicians competing with Learie Joseph

Boy, their group never fails us! Like the proverbial Johnny Walker, they keep moving on even if they are moving down. When they do not provide us with comic relief by their actions, they do it by their untimely, insensitive, and sometimes illogical utterances. Oh Boy! Tommy Joseph, Sprangalang, Learie Joseph, Beulah and Glenn Davis must be seriously concerned about these kids — some old and some relatively new on the comedian block.

One would certainly expect that after 43 years of independence, 33 (29?) years of Republicanism and almost 50 years after Dr Eric Williams launched the PNM, our politicians would be much more advanced in their thinking, but recent actions and utterances from these politicians leave very much to be desired.

Our Government must be concerned about the slow rate of its development programmes and its failure so far, in spite of all its efforts, to control, if not reduce the crime rate, and effect measures to reduce road traffic, port congestion, the cost of living, improve our roads and construct new ones, etc, etc. The Prime Minister and the Government must, as its number one priority, press the development accelerator and try and get the job done. There is more dissatisfaction out there than our Government cares to believe or admit. Whatever their plans — long, medium, or short-term, immediate implementation must not be requested by his Ministers but demanded. The country wants nothing less, and in fact will accept nothing less, now. If it is not done by the current government, who will do it? Certainly not the current bunch of comedians who are certainly less than impressive. After all, whatever we may wish to say about the PNM, in or out of power, there is order and stability in the party. Can we say the same for the other groups?

Mr Panday says he has given up the leadership to Mr Dookeran, but he must become Chairman in order to save the party from the PNM, the NAR and protect the party, which he built and for which he sacrificed so much, from the political investors and intruders to whom he almost gave the party and government between 1995 and 2000. He has given Mr Dookeran the leadership yet keeps the power. He threatens and ridicules everyone who does not agree with him, including the man who gave him a rib.

The leading political comedian on the block, Jack Warner, continues to challenge Learie Joseph on the Comedy Central hit parade. Jack is no fool; he is a very successful and highly respected man in the world of soccer. He has however, become so bitter, disenchanted, and frustrated of the unfair treatment meted out to him by the current establishment that has made him a prophet without honour in his own country that he has done so much for, that he is over reaching and reducing himself, in the eyes of his detractors and some of his supporters, to the level of a spectacle — a wounded comedian in a totally undesirable and unnecessary act of desperation for national recognition.

Jack loves, yearns and wants national attention. He may not believe this because he is a strong, very stubborn and very wealthy man, but if he continues along this path, it may not affect his wealth, but it will adversely affect his legacy and all that he has achieved. He must be told so by his friends to whom he is very generous. Brothers, Jack needs your advice now more than ever. That’s all you can give him. When one looks objectively at the two slates presented by the UNC, one does not need to attend the next Learie Joseph concert for entertainment. Panday supports and attacks Dookeran. Dookeran praises and criticises Panday. He talks about the Progressives and a new beginning with old wine in new bottles. Yetming boasts that Panday’s team can maintain the status quo and keep the party in opposition. The Progressives claim they can expand it and take the party into government. Dookeran does not attend Panday’s launching. He attends the launch of the Progressive team and addresses its supporters, where Panday is whipped directly and indirectly. Jack accuses Panday of reneging on his promise to him. What’s new? That’s the man’s history. He expresses that he has no political ambitions, yet offers his services to Dookeran to serve as a deputy political leader. Is there a nomination process? Who nominated and seconded Jack? At least in the PNM the political leader appoints his deputies at the end of the convention. Every candidate aspiring to office expresses loyalty to Mr Panday, the party and democracy UNC style. Dookeran supports the slate and recommends the Progressives to the crowd, identifying Moonilal, Yetming, Baksh, Seepersad Bachan and Jack Warner (excluding Barrington Skippy Thomas) as Patriots, worthy of his support and ready to be part of the Government he is hoping and preparing to lead.

As if these acts of political comedy are insufficient, up comes Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and Co Ltd with no ambition for power, but ready to meet with Mr Panday and other progressive groups to save our country from everybody except themselves. Ramesh and Panday to save us — Bingo.

The bottom line with all these comedians, as stated by most of them, is that they all want to save the country — to save me and you and provide equal opportunity for all of us — something that most of us already have along with transparency. Why did they not give evidence at the recent commission of inquiry into the airport scandal or investigate their cabinet and other colleagues now before the Bar of Justice charged with corruption?

As a geriatric, I am anxiously looking forward, more so within the next two weeks to the continuation of the series which certainly will provide us with some measure of relief from the stress of bandits and kidnappers. I for sure, will be looking on and monitoring both the Government and Opposition’s performance, or the lack of it.

The question, M’Lud, is how can we continue to enjoy this entertainment yet save ourselves from these political jack spaniards?

FERDIE FERREIRA

Diego Martin