Government success is national success

It seems logical, therefore, that in the period of governance outside of the election campaign citizens should cooperate with the Government to ensure there are more successes than failures.

There are more than enough examples of political organisations supporting one idea in office and opposing the same out of office simply for political gain.

The present opposition party will have one believe the property tax is an albatross around the neck of citizens and should be vehemently opposed.

With such strong feelings one would have thought that when it had the opportunity to rewrite the laws governing property tax it would have done so, but it did not.

Similarly, the Opposition has been advocating alternative sources of income.

The records however indicate that given the opportunity to govern, this organisation did not follow up with the initiatives of the previous government.

Initiatives like the industrial parks in Wallerfield and La Brea as well as downstream industries in the energy sector were ignored.

There is little achievement, beyond gaining political mileage, in blaming former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar or current Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for the ills of our nation. We should work together for the success of initiatives that benefit our nation regardless of which political organisation is responsible for its origin.

Is it a fact that billions of dollars were accessed from the National Gas Company for a water treatment plant that in the long term does very little to earn income for TT ? Did the last administration enter a contract for billions of dollars for a highway without first determining how it was going to finance the initiatives? What is the track record of the last administration with regard to restructuring agriculture and tourism as essential avenues to augment the income of the nation? The data will indicate that much of the initiatives advocated today by the Opposition were ignored during its term in office.

One should not be detracted by rhetoric for political gain.

We need to work with the Government and Opposition on arriving at long-term solutions for TT . We are too small and vulnerable to allow political divisiveness to destroy our fragile nation. We need to arrive at a place where taxes are not burdensome, where government services are friendly and efficient, and where communities can grow in order and peace. Such objectives can only be achieved if we aspire together.

STEVE ALVAREZ via email