Same old tactic

There usually follows the well-timed intervention of the Police and the “criminalising” of a train of speculative and exaggerated events that would whip the public into unthinking pandemonium giving internal consent to the lies and deceit triggered by the Prime Minister.

The PNM led by then Prime Minister Manning used this tactic against Satnarine Sharma. Chief Magistrate McNicols played the part Bharath plays today. It is the same tactic used against the former Prime Minister, Mrs Persad-Bissessar, Jerlean John of the HDC, the last Attorney General and a host of other institutional and political heads that the PNM wishes to change.

The problem with this unsavory approach is that it debases and belittles the state institution involved. When an “institution” is attacked and belittled its devaluation in the eyes of the public remains with the public as a permanent and lasting impression of the value of that institution.

Hence, when the Office of the Attorney General was debased and criminalised first by Manning and then by Rowley the disrespect for that office still stands - never mind who holds that office! The respect and value intrinsic to the office itself have all but disappeared.

Thus Rowley continues that PNM habit of dismantling the institutions of state to suit his selfish political ends in the facile hope that when he installs a PNM puppet to do his bidding the fact that he is the puppeteer his political stock would be sufficient to restore some semblance of respect to that institution and its head. Well, Dr Rowley is living a delusion.

Steve Smith via email