Kamla can’t unite UNC

In my experience, over the past five years, I have found that the working-class and business professionals alike have looked for support from our MP on many instances on both local and national issues with little avail. From my meetings with chamber of commerce members, charitable organisations, and meetings held with people that include areas such as “dog patch” (the lowest income village in Penal) we have not been able to lean on Mrs Persad-Bissessar at all. Truth be told, she has never wholeheartedly met business owners or persons aside from election time. It’s almost a “Queen Elizabeth complex” one may say when she is being chauffeured through the streets in her luxury sedan with somewhat of a royal wave at times. Her ability to rally support within Penal in times past was primarily due to the vivacity of Mr Panday (of old). But by extrapolation, as Dr Eric Williams alluded to, (you can put a crapaud to fight a UNC seat in Penal, and they will win). Although such is the case, times have changed so much so that in recent times, Mrs Persad-Bissessar would rarely walk the streets of Penal without fear of being jeered at or humiliated.

Many readers outside of this constituency may not see these things, but it is imperative that we be reminded that a great speaker on the national platform does not necessarily make a great politician.

It starts from the ground up. From within one’s own home, then constituency. It is sad however that some politicians feel that the grassroot voters are blind to this. Some even take for granted their core base until it is too late. In fact, I was recently made aware that there is a very strong movement within Mrs Persad-Bissessar’s own constituency poised on reminding the masses that they don’t want a representative to conveniently pose for the media when there is a flood, or to get a compassion vote for posing with a baby.

As days go by, the community is being reminded that Mrs Persad-Bissessar has not been actively involved in the community. Having been enlightened to many of these revelations myself, and having been involved with the people of Penal and Debe it has become increasingly difficult to support such a person who herself has failed her community. I firmly believe that she can not effectively mount a successful campaign towards uniting the UNC when she cannot unite the divided and disenchanted within her own electorate.