Much ado about Keith and Kamla meeting

That it provoked such negative feedback is perhaps a measure of our low expectations of the outcomes based on several previous similar futile endeavours.

The initiative drew scorn from some quarters, berating the PM for initiating such a meeting and not consulting them first.

This country is in dire economic, social and political straits. We citizens are searching for answers, yearning for a sustainable pathway out of the crisis. All reasonable efforts should be explored.

No one community or interest group has a monopoly on knowledge and solutions. Even if this were so, it would be strategic, prudent and absolutely necessary to recruit the broadest possible involvement in the required decision-making and implementation. This is indispensable for credibility, and to assure equity and fairness and avoid claims of unequal sharing of the burden of sacrifice.

In any such dialogue, it is foolhardy to exclude the national trade union movement.

But it is naïve to consider them the only group to be consulted.

There is no question that the political party constituting the parliamentary Opposition represents a significant constituency.

Consensus on critical national development issues requires its meaningful involvement, as of right.

Accordingly, the proposed meeting, if it marked a genuine attempt to shape a more civil, respectful relationship between the two major parties, in the larger national interest, is an effort to be lauded. Based on our sorry history, most commentators have already doomed the talks to failure. And, I dare say, many citizens share that view.

But is it just possible that our political leaders may surprise us? Is the task ahead any more monumental than what faced Nelson Mandela after his 27 years on Robben Island? Surely the PM and the Opposition Leader would know that throughout Mandela’s life, many of the defining moments of this icon “involved acts of compromise, pragmatism and reconciliation.” Inspired by this and his sheer humility, they may well seize the opportunity to rewrite our political history by eschewing “political theatre or gimmickry.” They could surprise us by striking compromise on a credible platform of action on the critical issues, which can then be taken to the broader social partners for further refinement and consensus before elaborating into an economic and social development rescue plan.

A former regional prime minister intimated recently, that the prevailing circumstances demand maturity on the part of both politicians and the people.

It is important that political leaders and social partners meet to discuss how to build consensus and resolve the crisis.

He noted: “…I know what the (different groups) are opposed to, (but) I don’t know what they are for, and perhaps it behooves us … to sit down and think carefully what we need to do to get out of this situation.” Hopefully, the PM and Opposition Leader share these perspectives.

The proposed meeting may yet mark a turning point for TT .

WINSTON R RUDDER Petit Valley