Misconceived sense of importance leads to dictatorship

THE EDITOR: Politicians in general seem to quickly lose sight of the fact that they are elected to office for the sole purpose of representing their constituents and asking their interest in every possible way and to the best of their ability. Unfortunately a great many of them appear to be more concerned with their self-aggrandisement and misconceived sense of importance and status than with the purpose for which they were elected. As a result, they gradually begin to see themselves as lord and master of the land and its inhabitants and begin to impose their will on them, regardless of how flawed and unacceptable it may be and with a defiant attitude and going so far as to brazenly state that, “who don’t like it can get to hell out of here.”

During recent times our present Prime Minister, Patrick Manning seems to be suffering from this contagious affliction and appears to have a desire to take charge of and control everything within his sight, be it state, religious or judiciary. A great many individuals may be under the opinion that matters of importance affecting the welfare of the country and its people are decided by Cabinet but those who are more conscious and aware should know fully well that the Prime Minister is the one calling the shots and members of Cabinet are merely there to rubber stamp whatever the PM decides. Members of Cabinet unfortunately do not have a mind of their own or the intestinal fortitude to disagree with their lord and master.

Within recent times, Mr Manning seems to be getting very generous with the public’s funds; making gifts to many of our neighbours while at the same time ignoring the urgent needs of our citizens and with no concern for the crumbing state of the infrastructure in most areas, in spite of the fact that surveys have indicated that some 30 percent or more of our population is existing below the poverty line. For all these problems to exist in the richest and best naturally endowed country in the Caribbean, is a true reflection of the poor administrative qualities of our leaders. A great deal of credit is frequently given where it is not due. Although a great deal of praise and credit was bestowed on the legal luminaries who collectively wrote the constitution of this country, it has been discovered after several decades that in several areas it is severely flawed and in need of urgent revision and change.

What further exacerbates our problem with regard to the administration of this country is the fact that TT is devoid of nationals and consists of largely two main groups of inhabitants namely Africans and Indians who so far, seem to be unable of combining forces for the best interest of the country and its inhabitants. The other serious problem exists in the fact that the only two political parties of any significance are both based on ethnic consideration with an almost equal following, resulting with half of the population being virtually deprived of proper representation with regard to equitable sharing of the opportunities and the spoils of this generously endowed land of our birth. In a truly democratic country there exists a government of the people, for the people by the people, not a government of some of the people, for some of the people by some of the people. The latter is in reality nothing more than a dictatorship.

MARTIN KAVANAGH
La Romaine