‘No patch work unity’

He is also of the view that there must be vigilance to prevent unity initiatives from being camera focused, and unity talks must stand the test of credibility, advocating a coalition outside the confines of the UNC.

His views on unity, ethics and politics were made known yesterday at a forum on the said issues at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, which he hosted.

Dookeran addressing a packed hall of supporters, UNC members and other interested persons noted that "your presence was a loud statement that the nation is ready for change."

Focussing on several key areas which he felt entailed "getting the politics right," Dookeran received hearty applause when he expressed his views on the "political mandate for unity."

He said since Independence many models of "unity" were experimented with in various incarnations, including the "one love, national unity and inclusion" slogans. Sadly he said they fractured and eventually shattered.

Dookeran felt that the "movements lost momentum because the essential foundation principles so basic to their survival, were either not established nor did they spring deep from the heart of the population."

He said, "the imposition of unity to achieve temporary political momentum is bound to fail," suggesting that "unity must be anchored on principles and ideas first, and move people to action."

In obvious reference to recent unity talks between his chairman, Basdeo Panday, deputy political leader Jack Warner and several present and former UNC members, Dookeran was firm, "that unity cannot be conjured up by a magician’s wand behind closed doors." He added that "like the magician, it cannot be sustained and would soon be identified for what it is and wither and disintegrate."

He therefore suggested that in the quest to build a party, community and country, there must be shared vision, aspiration and values.

"Values enables people to know in their own minds what to do and not to do. And there must be a return of acceptable public values that inform the governance of our citizens."

Dookeran said he was of the view that common ground can be found by moving to higher ground, responding to the desire of the people beyond the old paradigm of politics.

"We must remove the disconnect between what politicians say and what they do."

He said a new vision and thinking can emerge from reintroducing into the national arena, the basic virtues of ethics, truth, honesty, credibility, character, respect and divinity.

"We must be vigilant to prevent unity initiatives from being exclusively camera focused and or trivial. Unity cannot be based on patchwork, designed for short-term political survival. Unity talks must stand the test of credibility."

Dookeran said he stood for "principled compromises," and he advocated "a grand coalition that will go outside the narrow confines of the party."

He said the resources of the country cannot be mobilised unless "and until we go outside the existing party structures."

He called for the embracing of all institutions, stressing, "the time is now that we no longer be imprisoned by political conversations of the party. We must rise above these boundaries and open new visions for the political salvations of the country.

"Time for constructive engagement between the politicians and the people, stand up and be counted."

Dookeran suggested there also be the establishment of a Bureau of National Unification, saying there were too many quick fix solutions, and it was time to put down concrete structures.

In announcing that former UNC Trade Minister Mervyn Assam will convene the next forum on governance solutions for TT, Dookeran said, "the point of departure has come. Politics has reached a stage where unless you take collective action, the future will be risky."

He said that risk will end in a society where "our children will say they can’t be proud of us in the political landscape." Dookeran then appealed to all to "let us make them proud."

He said it was also "not a time to attack any policy or government, but a time to bring high energy among the politics in Trinidad and Tobago, so we can go beyond the obstacles and hurdles present in our paths."

On the issue of integrity in the political process, Dookeran got sustained applause when he called for the forthwith removal of criminal elements in the political and electoral process, so as to avoid "experiences in the last General Election."

As for campaign finance and party reform, Dookeran said "appropriate legislative guarantees" must be introduced to deal with the matter.

Dookeran assured that he shall "defend at all times my beliefs and visions for a better society," calling on persons to "enroll in the cause, as the political life of the country is at risk."