Politics dividing communities

The PM fears that decentralisation of policy decisions may lead to fragmentation of the unitary State. This fear must spring from a philosophy of control, not one of democracy and community.

Toco, Tabaquite, Port-of-Spain, Chaguanas etc, all have special circumstances. If one wants to provide all children a daily breakfast and tie that in to the revitalisation of agriculture in its area, of if another wants to encourage boat building, train constituents in advanced fishing techniques, develop refrigeration skills and build refrigeration capacity, will they then, with no vote, have to plead their case before the Senate, hopefully await their approval then wait again on the busy Cabinet? There are few easier ways to kill initiative and action.

The fundamental question is: In this democracy, are people not to be trusted to know their needs, to seek assistance from Government Departments to implement their decisions under agreed guidelines, and to grow in their political development? People cry out for community spirit. You build community by getting people to work out their problems together and experience the pleasure of doing so. Then they love their country more.

Proposal number two seeks to “improve representation of the people’s interest through including all mayors and chairmen of municipal authorities, without a vote, on an enlarged Senate.” Translating this into the language of reality, the Port-of-Spain City Council may reasonably say: “We shall exchange the last remnants of our historical independence to act in our burgesses’ interest for the dubious honour of talking in the Senate, with no chance to vote. Once powerful in our home, we shall now be servants of Massa, who has come back.” (Did he really go?)

My only reservation with proposal number four, “new boundaries for Local Government after rationalisation with Government administrative districts” is that I would have liked to see the Local Bodies with a say in the Elections and Boundaries Commission deliberations, but I fear National Parties’ dominance in their representation. I have no problem with proposal number five, “Some self financing for Local Government bodies.”

National party politics rejects people, even good community workers. It divides community, it sponsors dependency, it becomes the controlling force in the community.

Clearly, national political parties have no part in local community business.