The road to Whitehall

Dookeran is without a doubt a brilliant economist. In the Robinson government and later as Governor of the Central Bank he developed fiscal policies that have kept Trinidad and Tobago economically strong. But he is an ineffective politician, who unfortunately has been hijacked by a group of people who are fooled by their own propaganda.

Dookeran must credit Basdeo Panday with all his political successes, so it’s not good for him to suggest that he doesn’t need Panday to be his saviour. It was Panday who give him political life in Chaguanas. And when Robinson kicked out Panday and his “upstart” ULF bunch, the ULF representative from Chaguanas remained with Robinson. He did it because he felt he had a moral obligation to help maintain stability in the country.

So he didn’t need Panday. What happened next? The same people who gave him one of the largest majorities any MP had ever seen, rejected him. In spite of that Panday brought him back as Governor of the Central Bank, restoring his dignity. Then in 2002, Panday engineered Dookeran’s political resurrection by giving him the St Augustine seat, one of the safest in the country.

And for the icing on the cake, Panday gave Dookeran the leadership of the party, instructing everyone else to stay clear of challenging Dookeran for the top job. Even today, Panday is swimming against the tide of popular opinion within the party’s rank and file and holding out for Dookeran to see the light.

But the man who wants to be prime minister is refusing to see logic and good sense in what is really happening. If, as he says, the UNC membership has lost respect for him, then he must ask himself why. Respect is earned, not bestowed. So if people lose respect for you, it’s primarily because you gave them cause.

Anyone who wants to win an election must embrace all the people. Dookeran has failed to do that. He has caused division and shown scant concern for the people.

The question is this: why has Dookeran failed to form a new political party? There is a simple answer. He and his followers know that they need the UNC’s base and are afraid to make the bold move. Panday, in spite of the demonisation by the PNM and others, remains a leader who can command support within that “other” constituency, which Dookeran is ignoring to his peril.

Any third force as envisaged by Dookeran and his propagandists will lead to the political graveyard to join others like Tapia, Robinson’s DAC and most recently, Team Unity.

Trinidad and Tobago is crying for leadership. Manning and his PNM have created the ideal opportunity for a united opposition to win power on behalf of the people and restore decency, dignity, morality and fiscal responsibility and security to the nation.

If Dookeran truly cares about Trinidad and Tobago as he professes, he should discard the propaganda and focus on mending fences and uniting all the forces opposed to the present administration. That is the only road that leads to Whitehall.

Ancil Balfour

Barataria